IT WAS all Greek to most when trying to interpret what went down on the Grandstand court at the US Open when Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis upset 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Adelaide-born world number 86’s parents were both born in Greece, and no doubt most of Greece would have a soft spot for the Australian. Though that support would have wained when he took down the nation’s best Grand Slam home in an epic four-setter.

Kokkinakis won 7-6 4-6 6-3 7-5, answering each of Tsitsipas’ challenges out on court to upset the title contender who has typically struggled on the US hardcourts. Not reaching past a third round match, Tsitsipas has now won just one match in his past three main draw attempts. For the Australian, just getting out on court is an achievement having had a career derailed by injury and illness.

Touted as one of Australia’s greatest young prodigies after reaching three Junior Grand Slam finals in 2013, setbacks such as glandular fever and shoulder surgery restricted the now 28-year-old to just 35 matches in the space of six years when he would have been at his peak.

“There was that middle period in my career for five or six years where I felt like I was pretty much a no-show, trying to get back, and I couldn’t,” Kokkinakis said post-match.

There is no doubt he has natural talent, having beaten Roger Federer at Miami in 2018 as a 175th ranked qualifier, and won his sole ATP Tour title in Adelaide less than four years later. Overnight, the Aussie was back to his best, serving an incredible 17 aces for 47 winners, and matching it with the 11th seed.

Practically impenetrable off his first serve points, Kokkinakis won 78 per cent, and was just as good at the next, successful with 12 of his 15 approaches (80 per cent). He hit five less unforced errors (46-51) and was able to stave off a second set resurrection from his opponent to bounce back and win the last two sets in an epic battle.

Kokkinakis said he had to work hard to get to the point of where he is now, competing at the top level again and getting the results.

“I’m staying positive and just competing my nuts off, really,” Kokkinakis said. “I’ve always known that I’m capable of beating Top-10 players. It’s just being consistent with it and trying to string them together.”

The Aussie has thrown his quarter of the draw wide open, with a second round match against Portugal’s Nuno Borges. If he can win, Kokkinakis will advance through to the third round at a US Open for the first time in his career, with a very winnable proposition after that between talented youngster Jakub Mensik and Aussie surprise packet Tristan Schoolkate battling it out to be his third round opponent if he can win.

AROUND THE COURTS

Schoolkate lead a host of favourable Australian results on day two, coming back from two sets to love down to defeat Japan’s Taro Daniel in three hours and 50 minutes. Schoolkate trailed 6-4 6-4 but came back to win the last three sets 6-4 7-6 6-4 to scoot into the Round of 64. He was joined by Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, while Christopher O’Connell defeated 26th seed Nicolas Jarry, and top-ranked Aussie Alex de Minaur got past local hope Marcos Giron.

The only Australian losers were Li Tu – who incredibly took a set off world number three Carlos Alcaraz in a brave 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 defeat – and James Duckworth. World number one Jannik Sinner shockingly dropped the first set to American Mackenzie McDonald before bouncing back to win comfortably in four sets, 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2.

In other results, Mensik took down 19th seed Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, while the Czech’s compatriot Tomas Machac also won. Top 10 seeds Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz were among the other victors on day two.